US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

      (a)      The purpose of a local team is to prevent deaths related to domestic violence by:

            (1)      promoting cooperation and coordination among agencies involved in:

                  (i)      investigating deaths related to domestic violence; or

                  (ii)      providing services to victims of domestic violence, abusers, or surviving family members;

            (2)      developing an understanding of the causes and incidence of deaths related to domestic violence in the county; and

            (3)      developing plans for and recommending changes within the agencies the members represent.

      (b)      To achieve its purpose, a local team shall:

            (1)      establish and implement a protocol for the local team;

            (2)      as provided in subsection (c) of this section, review fatalities and cases of serious physical injury related to domestic violence that have occurred in the county;

            (3)      meet on a regular basis as determined by the local team, at least annually, to:

                  (i)      review the status of domestic violence fatality cases in the county;

                  (ii)      recommend actions to improve coordination of services and investigations among member agencies; and

                  (iii)      recommend actions within the member agencies to prevent deaths related to domestic violence; and

            (4)      provide reports that include recommendations:

                  (i)      to improve coordination of services and investigations;

                  (ii)      to implement changes recommended by the local team within member agencies; and

                  (iii)      on needed changes to State and local law, policy, and practice to prevent deaths related to domestic violence.

      (c)      (1)      In accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection, a local team shall determine the number and types of cases the team will review.

            (2)      A local team may review criminal cases only at the conclusion of the case in trial court or after the investigation of a suicide has been closed.